Satellite radar technique developed to predict dam collapse

The collapse in south-east Brazil, which took place on 25 January 2019 at a tailings dam near the Corrégo do Feijão iron ore mine in Minas Gerais state, was one of Brazil’s worst environmental disasters, killing over 200 people.

Owned by Vale, Brazil’s largest mining company, the dam was used for more than 40 years to hold waste from the mine. Its collapse caused a torrent of sludge to cover surrounding land, destroying homes and polluting rivers with toxic material.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Stephen Grebby from the Nottingham Geospatial Institute at the University, said that a significant number of these types of dam need enhanced monitoring. 

“Most mining companies currently rely upon ground-based sensors to monitor the stability of dams,” Grebby explained. “However, these typically offer an inadequate coverage of measurements across the whole of the dam, which can make it difficult to detect movement or other signs of distress.”